Oral health-related quality of life - associations with oral health and conditions in Swedish 70-year-old individuals

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in relation to different chronic oral conditions and perception of oral health among elderly individuals. Background: Health-related quality of life is important to assess and understand the impact of different diseases and conditions on individuals' well-being. Material and methods: Randomly selected 70-year-old individuals (N = 561) were included in this analysis. They were clinically examined and answered a questionnaire. Variables used were perceived oral health, satisfaction with appearance of teeth, problems with chewing and dry mouth, burning mouth syndrome, dental anxiety and dental visiting habits. To measure the participants perception of the impact of oral conditions on their well-being, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used. Results: The OHIP-14 distribution of sum of scores showed a floor effect but revealed acceptable psychometric properties with regard to reliability and validity. Multivariable logistic regression revealed three highly predictive variables for individuals with high OHIP-14 scores: using dentures, having chewing problems and being dissatisfied with appearance of teeth. Conclusion: Use of dentures, having chewing problems and being dissatisfied with appearance of teeth are associated with high OHIP-14 sums, indicating strong influence on OHRQoL.